Over the years I transitioned from an auto dude into a revolver kind of guy for home defense and currently employ a S&W 2 1/2" 66 loaded with Speer Gold Dot 125 grain .38+P's for that purpose. My question is, what do you think is the absolute best choice in a revolver and load for that purpose?
Ideal HD revolver?
- Thread starter MikeJ
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BerettaNut92
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I'd like a 9mm Mateba with Novak sights and a light rail. Like that's ever gonna happen 
critter
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So long as you are using a revolver (which in and of itself is a top notch choice!), you are about as close to ideal as you are going to get-IF you can handle it well!
You have a super reliable firearm, you will not need a 'long sight radius' inside the house, longer barrels are easier for the perp to twist it away from you, etc. Your load MIGHT be improved A LITTLE with .357 125 gr loads at the expense of slightly less ability to control and more muzzle blast.
If you really want a new gun for some reason, go for it, but I don't think you can change guns or ammo or both and increase your effectiveness by more than 1% no matter what you do.
The only improvement I would make is to buy a case of ammo and use it up practicing! You have chosen well, be happy and feel safe.
You have a super reliable firearm, you will not need a 'long sight radius' inside the house, longer barrels are easier for the perp to twist it away from you, etc. Your load MIGHT be improved A LITTLE with .357 125 gr loads at the expense of slightly less ability to control and more muzzle blast.
If you really want a new gun for some reason, go for it, but I don't think you can change guns or ammo or both and increase your effectiveness by more than 1% no matter what you do.
The only improvement I would make is to buy a case of ammo and use it up practicing! You have chosen well, be happy and feel safe.
MikeJ,
I suggest you may need to provide a little more information, for us to make optimal suggestions. For example:
1) In a rural farmhouse with no other occupants, I might opt for the most powerful, .357 magnum loads I could find.
2) However, in a multiple dwelling, apartment complex, or town house, carry-through might be a concern; therefore, a top-rated P+ .38 Special might be a better choice.
This said, I would not feel deficient -- in any way -- with the “system†you currently have.
I suggest you may need to provide a little more information, for us to make optimal suggestions. For example:
1) In a rural farmhouse with no other occupants, I might opt for the most powerful, .357 magnum loads I could find.
2) However, in a multiple dwelling, apartment complex, or town house, carry-through might be a concern; therefore, a top-rated P+ .38 Special might be a better choice.
This said, I would not feel deficient -- in any way -- with the “system†you currently have.
goalie
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IMO, a 4" .38 or .357
Sean Smith
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Off the top of my head, I'd say something like a 4" steel .357 loaded with some of the "medium" .357 Magnum loads.
Voodoo
Member
My current set-up is a 2.5" S&W 686+ stoked with .38+P Gold Dots. I went with the 686+ for the additional round (7, as opposed to 6). For fun, I also added a tritium BigDot front sight (Very cool - highly recommended). It's pretty much an ideal set-up for me.
smithandwesson
Member
I have two handguns that I use for home defense. My primary HD handgun is a 5 1/2" S&W 1917 .45 ACP and the secondary choice is also a .45 ACP revolver, which is the new S&W PC 625-10 sporting a 2" barrel, each are loaded with a full moon clip of Speer's 230 grain Gold Dot HP.
Thanks for the opinions so far.
RWK - The set up I'm thinking about is single family dwelling with overpenetration not a major concern.
By the way, I have a S&W 640 loaded with the same round for backup.
Critter - thanks for the response and I do handle both of them competently and confidently.
I was curious as to how many would suggest another caliber, different load, different barrel length, different gun etc.
RWK - The set up I'm thinking about is single family dwelling with overpenetration not a major concern.
By the way, I have a S&W 640 loaded with the same round for backup.
Critter - thanks for the response and I do handle both of them competently and confidently.
I was curious as to how many would suggest another caliber, different load, different barrel length, different gun etc.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
The following are the handguns I use for HD in a brick and plaster house in the city.
1. S&W 940 loaded with Speer 124gr+p Goldots, Always loaded and with me. Sleeps under my mattress at night
2. S&W 13 normally loaded with 165gr LSWCGC pushed by 14.5 gr of 2400, occasionally loaded with Fed 125gr JHP. In my car bag, a GI tool bag, tucked under the bed.
3. S&W 586 loaded with 165gr LSWCGC pushed by 14.5 gr of 2400.... under the 13 in the car bag. Sometimes loaded with 158 gr XTP FP w/Same powder load.
4. Sistema colt loaded with 230 gr LRN.
Near by is my Winny1300 and Marlin 1894 in 357.
1300 has 2 slugs loaded first, 2 00 buck and a #6 in the chamber with 3 #4's and 3 00's on a sidesaddle and 5 slugs in a butt cuff.
1894 has 10 168gr LSWCGC's
Gus Ddysgrl
Sleeps at the top of the stairs and has a G19 and Ruger SP101 nearby
1. S&W 940 loaded with Speer 124gr+p Goldots, Always loaded and with me. Sleeps under my mattress at night
2. S&W 13 normally loaded with 165gr LSWCGC pushed by 14.5 gr of 2400, occasionally loaded with Fed 125gr JHP. In my car bag, a GI tool bag, tucked under the bed.
3. S&W 586 loaded with 165gr LSWCGC pushed by 14.5 gr of 2400.... under the 13 in the car bag. Sometimes loaded with 158 gr XTP FP w/Same powder load.
4. Sistema colt loaded with 230 gr LRN.
Near by is my Winny1300 and Marlin 1894 in 357.
1300 has 2 slugs loaded first, 2 00 buck and a #6 in the chamber with 3 #4's and 3 00's on a sidesaddle and 5 slugs in a butt cuff.
1894 has 10 168gr LSWCGC's
Gus Ddysgrl
Sleeps at the top of the stairs and has a G19 and Ruger SP101 nearby
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
I currently have two revolvers deployed in use of HD;
and they are a 2" S&W old model 60 in .38 Special,
and a 6" S&W model 686-5 L-frame .357 magnum.
but primary will always be a self-loader in the form
of my beloved West German .45 caliber SIG-SAUER
P220A!
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
and they are a 2" S&W old model 60 in .38 Special,
and a 6" S&W model 686-5 L-frame .357 magnum.
but primary will always be a self-loader in the form
of my beloved West German .45 caliber SIG-SAUER
P220A!
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
yayarx7
Member
8 shot 357 4" barrel.
Rob96
Member
I have as a back up to my shotgun , a Ruger 4" GP-100 loaded with the aforementioned 125gr +P Speer Gold Dots.
Jim March
Member
Mike, what you've got is fine. Put Tritium front sights on both guns, I think there's Tritium rears available for the 66 and I'd suggest one minor change on both guns:
Get a box of Cor-Bon full-house 125grain combat JHPs in 357. Don't shoot any, don't even practice with 'em...just load one each in each gun, set up under the hammer (so it's the last round fired).
This gives you two things:
1) The gun now tells you when it's dry by trying to rip your arm off.
2) By then, there'll be enough other rounds flying that most possible bystanders have hit the deck and you can throw a "supernasty" with less risk.
3) If the 38s ain't slowed his dumb butt down, said Cor-Bon will get his attention.
The 38+P you're using now is one of the top three such loads, so stick with it if you dig it ('cept on those last-at-bat rounds).
-------------------
NOTE: yes, you could get some sort of 44Mag/Spl sixgun and load mild Magnums or hot Specials and be slightly more effective. BUT: practice costs will go up, and the two guns you have now make for fine street carry pieces, and the caliber is such that practice is cheap. I am a strong proponent of "mastering one or two guns" and using them for everything...in a pinch, you will KNOW and trust that piece.
Get a box of Cor-Bon full-house 125grain combat JHPs in 357. Don't shoot any, don't even practice with 'em...just load one each in each gun, set up under the hammer (so it's the last round fired).
This gives you two things:
1) The gun now tells you when it's dry by trying to rip your arm off
.2) By then, there'll be enough other rounds flying that most possible bystanders have hit the deck and you can throw a "supernasty" with less risk.
3) If the 38s ain't slowed his dumb butt down, said Cor-Bon will get his attention
.The 38+P you're using now is one of the top three such loads, so stick with it if you dig it ('cept on those last-at-bat rounds).
-------------------
NOTE: yes, you could get some sort of 44Mag/Spl sixgun and load mild Magnums or hot Specials and be slightly more effective. BUT: practice costs will go up, and the two guns you have now make for fine street carry pieces, and the caliber is such that practice is cheap. I am a strong proponent of "mastering one or two guns" and using them for everything...in a pinch, you will KNOW and trust that piece.
Hm.
Out of that short tube-and without having the chance to test them yet for certainty- I might go with the 110 .357 JHP to ensure opening without undue penetration. Again, this is an assumption based on weight vs barrel length in general in defensive rounds.
Out of that short tube-and without having the chance to test them yet for certainty- I might go with the 110 .357 JHP to ensure opening without undue penetration. Again, this is an assumption based on weight vs barrel length in general in defensive rounds.
chaim
Member
The best HD revolver is the one you shoot best (simply the fact that you use a wheelgun for HD puts you close to using the ideal). I think anything from a 3"-6" barrel, K or L frame .38 or .357mag is ideal, loaded up with good 125gr or 158gr .38spl+P HPs. I also like 158gr SWC-HPs. I am starting to think a .44spl or .45LC might be a better choice though since it has more power without much more recoil, flash or bang but I'm not leaning that far quite enough to have switched over.
wunderkind
Member
A police/security .38 revolver can be had for under 200 bucks easy.
My HD Taurus 82 4" heavy bbl. is set up so the first 2 shots will be Glasers, and the remaining 4 110 gr. Federal Hydrashoks. The 4" medium frame wheelgun has a nice long sighting plane and is quick into play (no safeties, same pull weight shot-to-shot.)
My HD Taurus 82 4" heavy bbl. is set up so the first 2 shots will be Glasers, and the remaining 4 110 gr. Federal Hydrashoks. The 4" medium frame wheelgun has a nice long sighting plane and is quick into play (no safeties, same pull weight shot-to-shot.)
Lord Grey Boots
Member
Actually, MikeJ's selection is a good one too. I'd go with a hardwood grip, and a bobbed hammer.
The short barrel makes it less likely the gun can be grabbed and twisted out of your hand. The hardwood grip is less likely to tear like a rubber grip, and the bobbed hammer keeps it snag free.
The short barrel makes it less likely the gun can be grabbed and twisted out of your hand. The hardwood grip is less likely to tear like a rubber grip, and the bobbed hammer keeps it snag free.
SMLE
Member
You've got a darned fine little revolver and the only thing I might change is to upgrade to full 357 fodder, 110s or 125s. But ONLY if you can still shoot them well. Longer barrels and 1 or 2 more rounds aren't really all that big an improvemnt. You're trying to shoot "minute of torso" across a room, not drop a 30 point buck at 100 yards. And even out of that short barrel, 357 is still signifigantly faster than 38 spec. Even out of a 6 inch barrel, the 38 is still slower.
The first three rules of stopping a BG are; shot placment, shot placment and shot placment. It's what you can HIT with that counts.
That's my 2 cents, YMMV.
The first three rules of stopping a BG are; shot placment, shot placment and shot placment. It's what you can HIT with that counts.
That's my 2 cents, YMMV.
Ohen Cepel
Member
686 with a 6in barrel.
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